Effervescent developer precursor for processing a lithographic printing plate precursor

Abstract

An effervescent developer precursor for preparing a developing solution for developing a lithographic printing plate precursor including an effervescence generating compound.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for processing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising:
 dissolving an effervescent developer precursor for preparing a developing solution for developing a lithographic printing plate precursor in a liquid thereby obtaining a developing solution, wherein the effervescent developer precursor comprises an effervescence generating compound; and 
 applying the developing solution to the lithographic printing plate precursor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effervescent developer precursor is an effervescent powder, an effervescent granule, or an effervescent tablet. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effervescence generating compound comprises a base component and an acid component and produces a gaseous product upon one or more dissolution and chemical reaction. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the base component is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the acid component is selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, ascorbic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the acid component is citric acid and the base component is one or more of sodium hydrogen carbonate and potassium hydrogen carbonate. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicate, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, an organic amine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more surface protective compounds comprising one or more of a film-forming hydrophilic polymer and a surfactant. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of an antifoaming agent, a biocide, a corrosion inhibitor, a chelating agent, an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an image protecting agent, a dissolution inhibitor, and a thickening agent.